Parliament and State Legislature MCQs for UPSC Prelims

This Parliament and State Legislature MCQ practice paper for UPSC Prelims has 15 carefully selected questions on the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, legislative procedure, money bills, parliamentary committees and the state legislatures. Each answer comes with a simple explanation, so you can strengthen your concepts while you practise.

Why Parliament and State Legislature Matters

Parliament is the heart of the Indian polity, and the questions on its composition, powers and procedures appear almost every year in the Prelims. The topic is also very useful for GS II in the Mains, where it supports answers on legislative functioning and accountability. The rules are clear and the questions are conceptual, so careful reading gives good marks.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha as per the Constitution is:
(a) 238
(b) 245
(c) 250
(d) 270

Q2. The Rajya Sabha is a:
(a) Dissolvable house
(b) Permanent house with one-third members retiring every two years
(c) House with five-year term
(d) Nominated house

Q3. Who presides over the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament?
(a) President
(b) Vice-President
(c) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
(d) Prime Minister

Q4. A joint sitting of Parliament cannot be called in the case of:
(a) Ordinary bills
(b) Money bills and Constitution amendment bills
(c) Financial bills
(d) Bills passed by the Lok Sabha only

Q5. A Money Bill can be introduced only in:
(a) Rajya Sabha
(b) Lok Sabha
(c) Either House
(d) Joint sitting

Q6. Within how many days must the Rajya Sabha return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha?
(a) 7 days
(b) 14 days
(c) 30 days
(d) 60 days

Q7. The anti-defection law is contained in which Schedule of the Constitution?
(a) Eighth
(b) Ninth
(c) Tenth
(d) Eleventh

Q8. Who decides whether a Bill is a Money Bill?
(a) President
(b) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
(c) Finance Minister
(d) Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

Q9. The Public Accounts Committee consists of how many members?
(a) 15
(b) 22
(c) 30
(d) 45

Q10. The Estimates Committee has members only from:
(a) Rajya Sabha
(b) Lok Sabha
(c) Both Houses
(d) Nominated experts

Q11. The maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament can be:
(a) Three months
(b) Four months
(c) Six months
(d) One year

Q12. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to:
(a) President
(b) Rajya Sabha
(c) Lok Sabha
(d) Supreme Court

Q13. The Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) in a state can be created by:
(a) The President on the Governor's advice
(b) Parliament by law after the assembly passes a resolution
(c) The Governor
(d) The Chief Minister

Q14. The strength of a Legislative Assembly in a state can be:
(a) Not less than 40 and not more than 400
(b) Not less than 60 and not more than 500
(c) Not less than 100 and not more than 600
(d) Not less than 30 and not more than 300

Q15. Who has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha?
(a) Speaker
(b) Prime Minister
(c) President
(d) Chief Justice of India

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (c) The Constitution provides a maximum of 250 members: 238 representatives of the states and union territories and 12 nominated by the President.
2. Q2: (b) The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house that is not subject to dissolution, and one-third of its members retire every second year.
3. Q3: (c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over a joint sitting under Article 108.
4. Q4: (b) The joint sitting is meant to solve a deadlock on ordinary bills and financial bills (not money bills), while a Constitution Amendment Bill needs a special majority in each House.
5. Q5: (b) A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the President. The Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject.
6. Q6: (b) The Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill within 14 days; otherwise it is deemed passed by both Houses.
7. Q7: (c) The Tenth Schedule, added by the 52nd Amendment (1985), contains the provisions on disqualification on the ground of defection.
8. Q8: (b) The decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on whether a Bill is a Money Bill is final.
9. Q9: (b) The PAC has 22 members: 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. Its chairman is usually from the opposition.
10. Q10: (b) The Estimates Committee has 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha.
11. Q11: (c) Article 85 provides that six months must not pass between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next.
12. Q12: (c) Under Article 75, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, and it must resign if it loses its confidence.
13. Q13: (b) Under Article 169, Parliament can create or abolish a Legislative Council if the Legislative Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.
14. Q14: (b) As per Article 170, the Assembly shall have not more than 500 and not less than 60 members, with some exceptions for small states.
15. Q15: (c) The President can dissolve the Lok Sabha, usually on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

Key Concepts to Revise After This Test

Quick Fact Sheet

• The Lok Sabha has 543 elected members, as per the present delimitation.
• The Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
• A bill lapses when the Lok Sabha is dissolved if it is pending in that House, but not if it is pending only in the Rajya Sabha.
• A no-confidence motion needs the support of at least 50 members to be admitted in the Lok Sabha.
• The Budget is presented under Article 112 as the Annual Financial Statement.
• The Consolidated Fund of India is described in Article 266.
• The first Lok Sabha Speaker was G.V. Mavalankar.

How to Prepare Parliament and State Legislature for the Prelims

For Parliament, start with the text of the relevant articles and make a comparison table of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Learn each type of bill with its special features. Make a list of committees with their strength and chairman. Link everything with the latest news, such as new bills, suspensions and committee reports. Practise 10 to 15 questions per week. You can also read our free Indian Polity and Governance notes for simple revision, and use our other practice papers on the site for mixed practice.

Tricks for Solving Parliament and State Legislature Questions

• Use comparison tables. Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha questions are common.
• Know the numbers. 250, 543, 14 days, 22 members and 30 members are often asked.
• Understand the logic. The Lok Sabha is the people's house, so the money power is with it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing a Money Bill with a Financial Bill.
• Mixing the strength of the PAC with that of the Estimates Committee.
• Forgetting that the Rajya Sabha is not dissolved.
• Not knowing the role of the Speaker in the joint sitting and the Money Bill decision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many questions come from Polity in the UPSC Prelims?

Polity usually gives 12 to 20 questions, and Parliament is one of the most important parts.

What is the difference between a Money Bill and a Financial Bill?

A Money Bill deals only with the matters in Article 110, like tax and expenditure, while a Financial Bill has other provisions as well. The Rajya Sabha has limited powers in the Money Bill.

What is a joint sitting of Parliament?

It is a meeting of both Houses to solve a deadlock on a bill, which is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

What is the role of parliamentary committees?

They examine bills, budgets and government work in detail, and make the executive accountable.

What is the Tenth Schedule?

It contains the anti-defection provisions, under which a member can be disqualified for defection.

Which book should I read for Parliament?

Use a standard polity book along with the Constitution text, and revise from short notes. Our free notes also help.

Does Parliament help in the Mains?

Yes. It is an important part of GS II, with many questions on legislative functioning and reforms.